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Hi everyone. Awesome forum! I am yet more MS flotsam drifting in after watching the W5 program on Dr. Zamboni and his hope-inspiring discovery.

I am de-lurking to post something that I think may be of help. I think it fits in with the new model of MS so I'm posting it here. In a nutshell, it's a relatively new (well, newly hyped) exercise machine that uses high frequency vibration to build muscle, improve circulation and a host of other claimed health benefits - some of them real.

The company selling this device is Power Plate. Here is a link to their website:

While there is much hype associated with this machine, I completely endorse what the lady with MS quoted in the press release has to say. It's made a significant improvement on my quality of life and I wonder if much of that has to do with improved circulation - particularly to nerve-weakened areas. The notable improved circulation may help pull blood through our restricted neck veins with the same benefit (though perhaps with less dramatic results) than stenting or angioplasty procedures.

MEDICAL NOTE: NOBODY WITH A STENT IN THEIR VEINS SHOULD USE THIS DEVICE.

I happened upon it when I ran into an old gym acquaintance. He and his wife were fervent users and seemed to me to be very energetic and healthy-looking. My friend claimed that he is able to get a better workout in 15 minutes than from hours spent in the gym. He is a dentist and was aware of its claimed benefits for MS patients.

A bit about myself. I'm a 20 year vet with this disease. Things went along a more or less livable RR course when, about 13 years ago, the disease took a rather pernicious turn. Since then, it mainly went after the right side of my body with worsening footdrop, weakened arm and hand. Where I used to be strongly right-handed, I am now exclusively a forced lefty and I walk with a bad limp for which I've used various orthotics for the last 12 years. Blessedly, I've had little trouble with mental fatigue and have kept to my stressful and long hours job. Fortunately as well, beginning about four years ago, I've had improvement in physical fatigue. I used to have to calculate my point of no return when going places, like a helicopter heading out to sea. Now, I'm almost unrestricted in walking distance - I'm just not very good at it. Apart from that, I guess you can describe my condition for the last several years as a slow leaking boat that's listing to one side.

I've tried to stay as fit as possible, doing what I can. One challenge that I've had is being able to exercise my aforementioned nerve-weakened right muscles and my relatively normal left-sided muscles. I kept up with free weights by loading up the left side heavier than the right. For example, I could curl a relatively heavy weight with my left arm and then a near feather weight in my right. I had poor results with this. Also, piling up weights on one side of a bar can be a bit dangerous.

Then I tried Bowflex, which I liked because it was much easier to do differential loads. Once again, I’ve had no improvement in my right side and my body continued to look lopsided as my right sided muscles faded. Meanwhile my left wouldn't be much better, because of being dragged down to the level of my right.

I got the walkaide device last year with great results in building back my pencil-thin calve muscle.

Then I got the Power Plate machine a little over a month ago. The first few times using it, I was sore all over – much like I used to feel, when I was a young man after a hard long weight workout. I also felt ill, like I’ve felt after a deep massage – supposedly from toxins being vibrated out of my muscles.

What I liked is that I could do most of the exercises as you basically hold various positions such as a squat while the machine shakes you. A whole lot of shaking going on. Even where I had to cheat to do some of the exercises, I could still create tension. (With this machine, the vibrations go mainly to where you are tensing your muscles. If you simply stand on it, the vibrations go up all the way to your head). Thus, this machine is great even for the feeble.

Now, after over a month, all I can say is wow! I don’t get sore anymore and I feel SO much stronger – more so than I can remember. It’s a good all-round feeling of fitness and strength. I can feel and see muscle growth on my right side. I’ve had slight but noticeable improvement in my footdrop and right arm/hand ability.

I’ll take that.

Even more incredible, is the significant improvement I’ve noticed in my alertness, mood and energy level. Even though I can’t run, I actually feel as though I can. It’s a great feeling. So is the tingly feeling throughout my nerve-weakened areas from improved blood flow that lasts long after a workout. Did I mention it only takes 15 minutes to do the full workout and a couple of stretches? I now do 3 a week plus one non-power plate cardio workout.

Anyway, sorry for the long first post. I just thought that someone else might discover similar benefits from trying this while we bide our time waiting for CCSVI treatments to come online. The machine is probably out of reach for most people to buy, but there are Power Plate classes to enroll in that are sprouting up everywhere as this seems to be the latest fitness craze plus you can find the machine in many gyms.

Hey that was uncalled for. Well maybe my enthusiasm was over the top. I swear I have no interest or shares in this company. I was skeptical of this product's claims too before I tried it, but I seriously have experienced the results I reported and thought I would share it here.

Hi Jugular
whatever your MO is, I bought a power plate 2 years ago, and have to say, it helps in every way. I went against so many pofessionals, but knew in my heart, for me it was logical. I've had MS for over 35 years, and in a wheelchair. Vibrating my body helped evereything work better!

Thanks guys. Maybe using this machine gets you high on endorphines and you come across as a religious convert.

Reg don't go thinking I'm too nice. Keep it up and I'll limp over there and kick your arse with plenty of quasi pumped up muscle.

And I am sticking with the MS tag until I'm shown to have CCSVI. My efforts to switch labels thus far have proven to be unsuccesful. My doctor referred me to have my neck ultrasounded. I showed up with Zamboni's protocal and thought I would just spring it on the tech. Turns out the tech was already familiar with the Vascular Surgery journal article, was excited about it, but said they are not set up to do it. She said they would only look at one side of my neck where I was reporting neck problems.

That suited me because I have been tormented for years by an upper neck
weird symptom that feels like a giant mosquito is biting me. It's weird
because when I am having one of these attacks it causes increased sensation and nerve strength down my right side rather than numbness and weakness. They seem to be part
positionally caused but usually like to attack me when Im trying to go to
sleep. For this reason I sleep on my back with my head titled up. My
version of the IBT.

Anyway I thought the my tormentor was vascular related but the ultrasound came back normal including my right JV.

I know it isn't conclusive, but I was disapointed with getting a normal result. Normally that is an abnormal reaction to a normal result but feel that a normal US test is not the normative procedure for CCSVI testing.

Only $10,500 - wow, WAY out of my price range... no wonder they can afford celeb. sponsers.. geez. Hey, maybe medicare will cover it - NOT !! LOL

I could probably just sit on my old vibrating a/c unit and get the same results, eh?

Seriously though, if you have that kind of $$$ and it helps.. why not??? Me personally, I'm saving my cash to fund a trip to Stanford.. or perhaps Poland! Maybe with new found health I can get back to work and afford one.

Thanks for posting Jug... I think everybody is getting a little anxious (maybe a full moon, too?) to get moving with ccsvi treatment (I for one am)... not to mention people get alittle crazy during the holidays for some reason, anyway.

My pathetic observation of this forum recently is seeing some very crazy posts.. from jordan shoe spam, to some nut case rambling on and talking about God only knows what, in a ccsvi forum.. not mentioning any names here.. Tolerance is key.

If you stick around though, you can weed out the annoying posters (get a life comes to mind) and hopefully get to the real important stuff. Quite a few very compassionate, caring, dilligent, smart, resourceful and helpful folks here... I've learned a tremendous amount from them... simply ignore the rest.

Only $10,500 - wow, WAY out of my price range... no wonder they can afford celeb. sponsers.. geez. Hey, maybe medicare will cover it - NOT !! LOL -John

Thanks John. I read the Jordon shoe post too. I was thinking that there is a shoe now that helps with circulation.

My Dentist friend bought the $10,500 one. Mine was a more modest $2100 US and it works fine. But you don't have to buy one as many gyms have them now. There are even power plate classes you can attend for a workout or see a trainer with the device.

I've been thinking of going to Poland myself but am waiting to see what happens with the Buffalo study and if they can get treating people here. In the meantime I hope I have found something to carry me to that fine day.

Jugular wrote:Thanks John. I read the Jordon shoe post too. I was thinking that there is a shoe now that helps with circulation.

My Dentist friend bought the $10,500 one. Mine was a more modest $2100 US and it works fine. But you don't have to buy one as many gyms have them now. There are even power plate classes you can attend for a workout or see a trainer with the device.

I've been thinking of going to Poland myself but am waiting to see what happens with the Buffalo study and if they can get treating people here. In the meantime I hope I have found something to carry me to that fine day.

Shoes that help with circulation.. lol ... Kinda reminds me of the "pump" hi-tops way back when... hmmm, not a bad idea actually.. haha better than wearing panty hose I guess..

The Monty Python "spam" vid was a hoot... I always liked him and Benny Hill when I was growing up for some strange reason...

The PowerPlate for $2100 isn't too bad compared to $10,500 - If my wife sits on it she may just let me buy one ...

Anyway, I think they need a few more moderators here... What a thankless job that would be though.. I've lurked here for quite a few years - longer than I want to admit... and it's crazy busy lately.. CCSVI is gaining momentum and the higher the number of us begging for help the better.

Poland is not looking good at the moment as I think I read a post that stated scheduling into 2011? But I firmly believe help is on the way.. Preferably sooner than later !

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